Former BBC news presenter Huw Edwards has been handed a six-month suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to the charge of making indecent images of children. In addition to the suspended sentence, Edwards has been ordered to complete a sex offender treatment program and will be placed on the sex offender register for seven years. The court’s decision means that he will not serve any jail time unless further offences are committed during the suspension period.
Edwards, once one of the BBC’s highest-paid and most prominent anchors, appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday morning to hear his sentence. For the hearing, he departed from his usual formal attire, opting instead for a dark blue cardigan, white shirt, and dark trousers. He remained composed throughout the proceedings, displaying little emotion as Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring delivered his sentencing remarks.
The charges stem from Edwards’ earlier court appearance in July, where he admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children. It was revealed in court that Edwards did not personally create the images, which included six classified as “Category A” — the most severe in terms of content. The images were reportedly sent to him via WhatsApp by a man he had connected with on social media. Under UK law, possession of such material is considered an offence of strict liability, meaning that Edwards’ lack of intent to download or view the images does not exempt him from culpability.
During the sentencing, the court heard that Edwards had sent financial gifts to the man responsible for sending him the images, identified as Alex Williams. Edwards claimed these payments were intended to support Williams’ university fees and were not intended as compensation for the indecent material. The Chief Magistrate accepted Edwards’ explanation. In total, authorities discovered 41 images, including both videos and photographs of children as young as seven years old.
Through his legal counsel, Philip Evans KC, Edwards expressed deep remorse for receiving the images. “He acknowledges the damaging and repugnant nature of these images and apologises sincerely for his involvement,” Evans told the court. Edwards also conveyed his regret for the harm caused to the victims depicted in the images.
In total, police uncovered 41 indecent images, including videos and photographs of children as young as seven years old. Williams, who was previously convicted of possessing and distributing indecent images, received a 12-month suspended sentence earlier this year.
Edwards’ downfall marks a dramatic end to a 40-year career with the BBC, where he held the distinction of being one of the corporation’s most prominent presenters. His career began to unravel last year when a British tabloid reported that an unnamed BBC presenter had paid a teenager for explicit images. Edwards was not charged in connection with that allegation, but soon after, he took medical leave for mental health reasons. He officially resigned from the BBC in April 2024, following the disclosure that he had been charged with offences related to indecent images of children.
Edwards continued to receive his salary until his resignation in April 2024, despite the BBC being informed of the charges with making indecent images of children against him in 2023. The broadcaster is now reportedly seeking to recover approximately £200,000 ($262,000) of the salary paid during that period.
